A CHINESE school based at a Glasgow college is to reconvene this weekend after being suspended for weeks due to the "Coronavirus Pandemic."

Hundreds of pupils, and their families, will gather at Glasgow Kelvin College’s Springburn campus on Saturday for lessons in Chinese, Mandarin and Cantonese.

The school, which was the first of its kind in Glasgow and opened in 1972, was suspended on January 20.

A message posted on the school’s website said: “Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, The Glasgow Chinese School has decided that all lessons will be cancelled and the school building will be shut for three weeks ( 25/1,1/2 & 8/2 ) until further notice.”

It is thought that the suspension may have been taken as a precautionary measure with some families travelling overseas to celebrate the Chinese New Year on February 12.

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A college source said the decision to lift the suspension has created some concern amongst staff due to work on Saturday that the facility has not taken adequate infection control precautions.

She said: “People are a bit concerned. You have hundreds of pupils coming in with their families. All we have been given is hand gel. There are people with underlying health conditions.”

A spokeswoman for the college said it had introduced an enhancing cleaning regime and was following the advice of NHS and Health Protection Scotland.

It comes as preparations for a coronavirus outbreak in Scotland are being stepped up.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said they were “expecting an outbreak” in Scotland and were working on plans to contain it.

However she stressed that the risk to individuals was low.

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A total of 412 people have been tested for the virus in Scotland but they have all returned negative results.

A spokeswoman for the college said: “The Glasgow Chinese School, which was voluntarily suspended for several weeks, has informed the College that it plans to recommence this week with up to 500 students from our communities across the city.

"Glasgow Kelvin College continues to follow the advice of NHS and Health Protection Scotland, publicising these messages widely to students, staff, stakeholders and the online community through posters, email, social media and newsletters.

“In addition, the College has introduced an enhanced cleaning regime in its buildings to control and prevent the risk of the spread of any bacteria or infection."

The Evening Times contacted the Glasgow Chinese School.